"Ask for these people to come to my dojo," Another week had past, and this morning Obanai handed a piece of paper to Chizuko as she was about to exit with a basket of breakfast.
"Hai, Iguro-sama," Chizuko was confused, Iguro-sama doesn't like guests. But she did what she was told without questioning, after all, Obanai didn't like explaining his motives.
Obanai waited at the dojo with ropes.
***
"I'm back, Iguro-sama," Chizuko pushed open the gates. Why is it so quiet? I thought Iguro-sama invited people over? Chizuko went to the dojo.
"Iguro-sama..?" Chizuko slid open the door, only to close and open it again. What in the world is going on!? Uneasiness crawled in her stomach, why are so many people tied up!? Is this hell?
"Your task today is to slash me with this while avoiding the obstacles," Obanai suddenly appeared and threw her a wooden sword. "O-Obstacles!? But Iguro-sama! They are people! And what if I hit them!?" Chizuko panicked. She thought Obanai couldn't be more extreme in his methods, but she was terribly wrong. "Shut up and start training. They deserve to be beaten anyway." Obanai yanked Chizuko into the dojo.
Muffled shrieks came from all directions. Chizuko was quavering, not only did she have to look out for Obanai, she also tried her best not to injure anyone. There were a few times she got swept off her feet by Obanai, or hit directly in the stomach, or lost her balance while dodging the tied people. Other times, Obanai smacked the people on the poles as Chizuko barely escaped from his attacks.
"None of you are leaving until she slashes me," Obanai pressured Chizuko.
Hours had passed, Chizuko still failed to hit Obanai. Obanai had either beaten her before she could raise her sword, or he was simply gone in a blink of an eye. Chizuko panted and stopped, this was impossible. "Don't stop! I forbid you to be lazy!" Obanai scolded. Chizuko raised her sword again, only to be kicked by Obanai who disappeared the next second.
Chizuko kneeled on the floor, her vision blurred. She wasn't even half his speed and agility, nor flexible and quick. "Save your useless tears and use your rusted brain to think of a solution!" Obanai's criticism rang in her ears. How? How would she be able to think clearly when the urge to cry clouds her senses?
She caught glimpses of Obanai's haori bolting between the poles. Her eyes widened, it is somehow familiar. As she anticipated, Obanai darted leftwards, then towards the right, then to the back. And then-
She stood and dodged to the left as Obanai attacked from the back. Alright! Now to the right! Chizuko raced between the poles, searching her memory to reconstruct Obanai's route in her mind. To her surprise, she was able to avoid his strikes.
Obanai's eyes widened slightly, it was as if Chizuko suddenly had eyes on her back, she moved just in time every time before he could smack her.
And now! Chizuko bent down as she turned, avoiding Obanai's slash precisely. She raised her sword and gently jabbed Obanai on his waist.
I did it! Chizuko fell to the floor in exhaustion and joy.
Obanai stood there. He wanted to say something, but couldn't form words. A moment ago she was sitting on the floor teary eyed, the next it was as if she were another person. Like ink into water, a peculiar feeling spread in his chest. He was thankful for his mask, it concealed his lips that were tugging upwards.
"Get up from the floor, Suzuki," Obanai muttered, "again."
***
"I'm so sorry, Murata-san," Chizuko apologised as she rubbed oils onto the boy's forehead, "I didn't know Iguro-sama was going to tie you guys up." "A-Ah, it's fine, Suzuki-san, you didn't know," Murata replied, scratching his neck. So the rumours were true, the about-to-be tsuguko of the serpent hashira was a beauty.
Obanai glared as the 'weaklings' got patched up by Chizuko. Tch, just send them away, you are wasting medicine, Obanai's eyebrows jumped. But Chizuko insisted that her reward for jabbing him twice was to check up the slayers that were beaten up.
"Sorry again," Chizuko bowed and bowed at the slayers scurrying away. She sighed while closing the gates. Why did Iguro-sama have to threaten these people?
***
"You are doing it all wrong, you look and sound like a fish on dry sand."
Another week had passed, Obanai was trying to teach her breathing techniques, the breath of the serpent to be exact. But he was failing miserably.
Chizuko rubbed her side and stood up. She had been trying all day, yet it just didn't work. Yes, she could remember every breath, every turn, every muscular contraction. She ended up choking, or crashing into the poles, or colliding with the ground.
"Watch again." Obanai could feel his calmness wearing thin, "Breath of the serpent, first form, winding serpent slash." He leapt into the air and rotated his body, forming a circular slash.
Chizuko looked with utter awe in her eyes. All the hashiras she had seen are so powerful. But her heart sank as she remembered the fact that she couldn't do it. When would I be able to fight by their sides?
"Try until it works or else no dinner for you," Obanai landed swiftly. Chizuko held back the urge to pout, she was starving.
"CAW! CAW! Message for Iguro Obanai! Message for Iguro Obanai!" A crow landed on the centre of the dojo, "Oyakata-sama would like to see you now! CAW! Head for the headquarters now!"
***
"I see," Obanai said, "I am confident in completing the mission, Oyakata-sama."
"Thank you, Obanai," Kagaya nodded. "A team would be waiting for you at the gates tonight. I look forward to seeing you return safely after two months."
Obanai bowed deeply, "I will. Thank you, Oyakata-sama."
***
"Iguro-sama! You're leaving for two months?" Chizuko exclaimed, do all hashira have to go on such long missions?
"I don't want to repeat myself again," Obanai replied as he packed. "And about your training, I have had arrangements for you. I expect to see your improvement when I am back." He added.
"H-Hai," Chizuko promised as she walked Obanai to the door, "Iguro-sama?"
Obanai turned slightly, "What is it again, Suzuki."
"Please stay safe," Chizuko handed him some carefully wrapped origini.
Obanai almost bit his tongue in shock, no one had ever made him food to bring on missions. He wasn't used to this, he hesitated before taking the rice balls.
"Don't mess up and you'll save me some worries," Obanai said to Chizuko before leaving.